Book two of the dazzling Winner’s Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

It’s Day 5, the last day of this awesome week talking about the best of the best, and I’m counting down the Top Ten Books I’m Looking Forward to in 2015. I’ve actually done this list earlier this month as part of a weekly meme and you can check out my list HERE. But I’m tweaking that list a bit for this post and included even the books I’ve already received the eARCs of.

There are so many good books to look forward to in 2015. It’s going to be another amazing year for reading!

I really liked Written in Red, though it took a while before I got into the story. But by Murder of Crows, I was in love with all these characters that I can’t wait to find out what happens to them next. And, Simon and Meg, of course.

I’ve been without a full-length Kate Meader read for far too long. I can’t wait for this first book of a brand new series. I’ve read the novella that serves as a prologue to this series and I really loved it.

Oh my, we’re now on Book #14 of her Psy-Changeling series and it’s poised to be the ending of this particular story arc. I can’t wait to read it! It’s Aden and it’s a Psy-Psy pairing, or more specifically, an Arrow-Arrow pairing. I really can’t wait!

There you go, the top 10 (++) books I’m looking forward to in 2015. Do we have the same books to look forward to? How excited (or impatient like me) are you to read these books? What would you have in your list?

“I should never have recommended you for this job,” Patrick said. “But… you did deserve it. And I had only met you for the length of one workshop, when I was pretty busy helping all kinds of students besides just you. I knew I was attracted to you, but I had no idea what working in close quarters with you was going to be like.”

“What has it been like?” she asked, puzzled.

A rough laugh. “You can’t even imagine it. You can pull into yourself and shut me out, and I can’t do that, Sarah. You drive me crazy every single second of every day.”

It’s Day 3 and it’s Blogger’s Choice! For my post, I am counting down my top ten best couples of 2014. This list includes couples from books I’ve read this year regardless of publication dates.

I’m a romance junkie, no doubt about that. It’s rare for me to read anything that has no romance in it so I’m pretty familiar with all kinds of couples. I’ve ‘met’ a lot of them over the years and here are just some of the best from the bunch this year.

from the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Easily one of the best this year. This pairing felt like one of those things that I’ve dreamed about for so long since I started reading. I know not everybody agrees and I respect that. But I’m just so glad Tahereh Mafi decided to make this happen. (My review of Ignite Me)

from the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. The connection between these two, it will blow your mind. I’m not just talking about chemistry, though these two definitely have that. I’m talking about how their lives are so intertwined, there’s just no running away from each other. (My review)

Today, I’m going to feature the Ten Best Books I’ve Read in 2014…

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. One of the most poignant and heartbreaking books I’ve enjoyed reading. This has earned its place in my Hall of Fame of Favorites.

THE PIPER’S SON by Melina Marchetta. Oh, Thomas McKee. This was another powerful story from Melina Marchetta and another Hall of Fame-r if you ask me.

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I’ll forever be grateful to Tahereh Mafi for writing one of the types of characters that I wanted most to see written into a book. Warner was everything I hope he would be and more. Add to this, Tahereh’s wonderful prose and gosh, another winner of course.

Top Ten New-To-Me Authors I Read in 2014…

MELINA MARCHETTA. This is a such a no-brainer. She’s one of the greatest author finds ever for me. These two books have become two of my favorite books of all time.

TAHEREH MAFI. I’ll never forget this author for bringing to life or to the pages Warner.

TARRYN FISHER. Gosh, this book. And though I haven’t read the other two books yet I can say, gosh, this whole series. Her writing and her characters will leave an indelible mark on you as a reader. Her story will stay with you long after you’ve turned that last page.

ELLE KENNEDY. Her kind of combustible romance and writing are just the perfect match to my romantic heart. She knows how to tell a story and she does it so very well.

TESSA BAILEY. Her Brazen Line novels are to die for. I love how she blends the sweet, the sexy, and the completely romantic.

Top Ten Sequels I Can’t Wait To Get…

THE WINNER’S CRIME (The Winner’s Curse #2) by Marie Rutkoski. This is a no-brainer. I’ve fallen head over heels with The Winner’s Curse and just reading the very short excerpt from Book #2 makes me want to read it more. And soon, please.

CRUSHED (Redemption #2) by Lauren Layne. I didn’t think Michael and Olivia were getting their own stories. But after reading Olivia’s, I can’t wait to read Michael’s and see what Lauren Layne has in store for him.

P.S. I STILL LOVE YOU (To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before #2) by Jenny Han. That ending from Book #1 just left me wanting more, there’s just no other way to feel about it. There’s more ‘self’ and other people to discover for our heroine. I can’t wait.

ANTICIPATION (Satisfaction #2) by Sarah Mayberry. After finishing Book 1, I had a feeling that Blue and Eddie deserve their own stories and it was even better to find out that Sarah Mayberry is doing a book on these two, together! I’m so excited!

ROCK HARD (Rock Kiss #2) by Nalini Singh. After reading Rock Addiction, I knew something was brewing behind the scenes between Charlotte and her new boss. I knew it!

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights eagerly anticipated upcoming releases.

This week’s spotlight is on:

THE WINNER’S CRIME

by Marie Rutkoski

Release Date: March 3, 2015

Book two of the dazzling Winner’s Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Top Ten Books I Want to Re-read…

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. This is one of the greatest stories I have ever read and I can’t believe I haven’t re-read it at least once since the first time I’ve read it.

THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA by Megan Whalen Turner. Gosh, thinking back on the first time I’ve read it… I have zero doubts that I’ll feel exactly the same about this book. In awe.

IGNITE ME by Tahereh Mafi. I want to re-read all those lines and all those scenes. I want to relive all. those. FEELS.

HOSTAGE TO PLEASURE by Nalini Singh. Even though I’ve already re-read this one twice this year, I’ll probably be able to squeeze in time for a third re-read before the year ends. That’s how much I love this book.

ROMANCING MISTER BRIDGERTON by Julia Quinn. This is another of my go-to re-reads. When I’m craving for a well-loved, familiar, and light romance with humor, this is the book I turn to over and over again. It never gets old.

I’m going to do a split version for this week and do a top five for YA books and another top five for Contemporary Romance books. So here we go…

Top Five Books for YA Newbies…

JELLICOE ROAD by Melina Marchetta. My general belief is that everybody should read this book at least once in his/her life. 🙂 It’s an amazingly woven, poignant, and powerful story. Here’s my attempt to REVIEW this.

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell. If you need an initiation to the YA genre, you’ve got to try Rainbow Rowell’s YA books.

SINCE YOU’VE BEEN GONE by Morgan Matson. I love the plot and character development in this one. It was great being with Emily in her journey of discoveries.

THE WINNER’S CURSE by Marie Rutkoski. This is a historical fantasy variation of YA, whose story presents sides that you will have a hard time choosing over. Here’s my REVIEW.

THE QUEEN OF ATTOLIA by Megan Whalen Turner. This is actually the 2nd book in The Queen’s Thief series and my favorite. But I would still recommend reading the series in order to get that full impact of MWT’s genius.